Improvement in safety-bridles



D. LAUSTER.

Safety Bridle. No. 201,801.

Patented Mal-ch26, I878.

Wary/ 7. v

N-FETERS, PH R, WASHINGTON/01C UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

DAVID LAUSTEB, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETY-BR'IDLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,801, dated March 26, 1878; application filed February 4, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID LAUSTER, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safety-Bridles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a bridle designed for giving the driver full control over vicious or unruly horses; and it consists of the peculiar construction and arrangement of the device, as will be hereinafter fully set forth;

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows my improved bridle applied to a horse. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bridle on an enlarged scale.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in each of the figures.

A represents the head-strap or crown-piece, B B the cheek-pieces, and G the throat-latch, of the headstall. D represents a snaffle or other suitable bit, provided with rings d d, to which the cheek-pieces are attached in the usual manner. 0 represents a roller, arranged in the rear portion of each ring d, for permitting the rein F to move freely in the ring. g is an auxiliary bit, connected, by rings h h, to the front ends 1' z of an overdraw-strap, I, running over the forehead of the horse and between the ears thereof, where the strap I is again divided, its two rear ends, j j, passing loosely through loops is k on the crown-piece, and carrying at their ends loopsor runners l, which are preferably provided with rollers m.

The reins F are secured to the saddle K, and run thence forward through the loops Z of the overdraw-strap I, and thence through the bit-rings d, and from there back to the driver or rider. The reins are preferably secured to the saddle, so as to cross each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, whereby they are caused to lie snugly against the neck of the horse.

Upon tightening the reins a considerably larger force than in ordinary bridles is applied to the bit D, owing to the fact that one end of the reins is fastened, and at the same time the angular portion of the rein between the saddle and the bit D is more or less straightened, thereby exerting a downward pressure upon the rear ends j of the over draw-strap I, and pressing the auxiliary bit 9 against the upper jaw of the horse.

By applying a strong pull to the reins, the bits D and gare separated or spread apart, so as to open the mouth of the horse, and the latter is thereby prevented from lowering its head and taking the main bit broadly on its lower jaw. In this manner the horse is prevented from pulling hard on the main bit 1),, as the head of the horse is always held in a position in which the main bit will be drawn toward the angle of the mouth.

While the horse is so prevented from getting its head into a position in which it may successfully resist the pressure of the main bit, there is no undue pain or punishment infiicted upon the mouth of the horse, and the further hardening of the mouth occasioned by some of the safety-bits in use, as well as any, undue irritation of the temper of the horse, is entirely prevented.

My improved bridle also prevents the horse from being choked by the pull on the reins, and thereby forms an effective remedy for the objectionable whistling breath often found in hard-pulling horses.

The rollers m of the loops Z andithe rollers 61 of the main bit permit the reins to move freely in applying pressure to the bits and re leasing the same.

My improved bridle is comparatively simple of construction, presenting to the eye substantially the same appearance as an ordinary bridle, and it is equally useful as a harness or saddle bridle.

I am aware that an auxiliary bit attached to the check-rein has been used in bridles, and this I do not claim; but

I claim as my invention- A bridle composed of a headstall having the crown-piece provided with loops is k, the main bit D, attached to the cheek-pieces, the auxiliary bit g, attached to the overdrawstrap I, the rear ends of which pass loosely through the loops 7c 70 and are provided with loops 1 Z, and the reins F, attached to the saddle and passing through the loops Z lof the strap I and the rings cl d of the main bit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

DAVID LAUSTER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WILHIELM, J No. J. BONNER.v 

